Disk loading apparatus with floatable clamp means

ABSTRACT

In a disk loading apparatus according to the present invention, a clamp section is configured so as to be floatable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of disk insertion and so as to be lifted up and thereby go outside the path of disk insertion when being confronted with the inserted disk, while a traverse unit of a pickup is configured so as to position a turntable in the replay waiting position and the replay position by the rotational motion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a disk loading apparatus capable ofrecording on or reproducing from a disk-shaped recording medium (simplyreferred to as a disk, hereafter) such as a CD and a DVD.

BACKGROUND ART

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side cross sectional views of conventional diskloading apparatus. FIG. 7 shows the go situation in which a disk 1 is ina state on the way of being inserted into the conventional disk loadingapparatus. FIG. 8 shows the situation in which the disk 1 is clamped inthe conventional disk loading apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the conventional disk loading apparatus, the disk1 inserted to the apparatus is drawn into the inside of the apparatus bythe rotational motion of a roller 18. The roller 18 is provided with acoiled spring 21 serving as enforcing means for causing the roller topush the bottom surface of the disk 1. The disk 1 drawn into the insideof the apparatus is positioned on a turntable 19, and then clampedrotatably by a clamp 16. The turntable 19 is linked directly to therotary shaft of a spindle motor 30, thereby rotating the clamped disk 1at a desired speed.

The clamp 16 for retaining the disk 1 is retained by a clamp holder 17,and the clamp holder 17 is configured so as to rotate by a predeterminedangle around a rotary center shaft 20. When the disk 1 is inserted to orejected from the apparatus, the clamp 16 is lifted up by the rotationalmotion of the clamp holder 17, whereby the clamped state of the disk 1is released. Also in the ejection of the disk 1, the roller 18 pushesthe bottom surface of the disk 1, thereby moving the disk 1 in adirection of the ejection.

In the conventional disk loading apparatus having the above-mentionedconfiguration, when the disk 1 is inserted, the clamp holder 17 rotatesaround the rotary center shaft 20 serving as the fulcrum, therebylifting up the clamp 16, whereby the inserted disk 1 is drawn in by therotational motion of the roller 18 and then positioned above theturntable 19. When the disk 1 is positioned above the turntable 19, thedisk 1 is clamped by the clamp holder 17 and the roller 18, and thenpushed down as a whole body onto the turntable 19. The disk 1 placed onthe turntable 19 is clamped by the clamp 16 pushed down by the clampholder 17. After the disk 1 is clamped onto the turntable 19, the roller18 and the clamp holder 17 move departing from the disk 1, thereby beingpositioned with a gap from the disk 1.

Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 11-238278discloses a disk loading apparatus in which a disk is placed on a disktray and then loaded. In the conventional disk loading apparatusdisclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Hei 11-238278, inorder for the disk to be prevented from contacting with the othermembers when the disk placed on the disk tray is inserted to the insideof the apparatus, a clamp is removed from a turntable by magneticattracting means in the unloading state. In the loading state, the clampis attracted to the turntable side by another magnetic attracting means,and the disk on the turntable is retained by a centering mechanismprovided in the clamp. According to this configuration, in theconventional disk loading apparatus, a rather wide gap is providedbetween the clamp and the turntable in the unloading state, whereby thecontact with the disk has been prevented.

In the conventional disk loading apparatus, in order for the disk 1 tobe securely prevented from contacting with the clamp 16, the turntable19, and the like when the disk 1 is drawn In or ejected, it has beennecessary to provide a gap a (see FIG. 7) serving as a large spacebetween the turntable 19 and the clamp 16. In such a disk loadingapparatus, reduction of the size and the thickness of the apparatus isan object to be achieved in this technical field. Nevertheless, in theconventional disk loading apparatus, the necessity of a large spacebetween the turntable 19 and the clamp 16 has caused a large problem inreduction of the size and the thickness of the apparatus. Further, thecentering mechanism provided in the clamp section by means of aplurality of magnetic attracting means has caused a difficulty inreduction of the size and the thickness of the apparatus.

The invention has been devised in order to resolve the above-mentionedproblems, and an object of the invention is to obtain a disk loadingapparatus in which reduction of the size and the thickness of theapparatus is achieved, and in which an inserted disk is clamped stablyand securely, whereby damage in the recording surface of the disk isprevented and hence high reliability is obtained.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

A disk loading apparatus according to the present invention comprises:

disk transferring means for drawing and ejecting an inserted disk to andfrom the inside of the apparatus;

clamp means configured so as to be floatable in a directionperpendicular to the direction of disk insertion and configured so as togo outside the path of disk insertion when being confronted with theinserted disk;

turntable means on which the inserted disk is placed and which is drivenby a spindle motor;

information reading means for reading the information on the inserteddisk; and

traverse means configured so as to move the information reading means inthe direction of a disk diameter and so as to move said turntable meansand cause it to press said clamp means.

The disk loading apparatus having the above-mentioned configurationaccording to the invention can realize the reduction of the size and thethickness.

In a disk loading apparatus according to another aspect of the presentinvention, said traverse means is a traverse unit, which is configuredso as to rotate around a rotary shaft provided in the vicinity of theouter periphery of the loaded disk and cause said turntable means tomove between a replay waiting position and a replay position.

The disk loading apparatus having the above-mentioned configurationaccording to the invention can realize the reduction of the size and thethickness, and further clamp the inserted disk stably and securely inthe apparatus.

In the configuration of a disk loading apparatus according to anotheraspect of the invention, said disk transferring means comprises a rollerwhich rotates with pushing the inserted disk and thereby performs thedrawing-in action and the ejection action of the disk, whereby when thedisk is positioned in the replay position, said turntable means islifted up toward said clamp means, thereby clamping the disk.

The disk loading apparatus having the above-mentioned configurationaccording to the invention can realize the reduction of the size and thethickness, and further prevent damage in the recording surface of thedisk.

While the novel features of the invention are set forth particularly inthe appended claims, the invention, both as to organization and content,will be better understood and appreciated, along with other objects andfeatures thereof, from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the main part of a disk loading apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in the disk waitingstate.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part of a disk loading apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in a state on the wayof disk drawing-in.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the main part of a disk loading apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention in the clamped state.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the main part of the clamp sectionof a disk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention in a state on the way of disk drawing-in.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the main part of the clamp sectionof a disk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention in the clamped state.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of an example in which a disk loadingapparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention isinstalled in a notebook type personal computer serving as a diskreplaying apparatus.

FIG. 7 is the side cross sectional view of the main part of theconventional disk loading apparatus in a state on the way of diskdrawing-in.

FIG. 8 is the side cross sectional view of the main part of theconventional disk loading apparatus in the clamped state.

It will be recognized that some or all of the Figures are schematicrepresentations for purposes of illustration and do not necessarilydepict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of a disk loading apparatus according to thepresent invention are described below with reference to the attacheddrawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 through FIG. 3 are side cross sectional views showing the mainpart of a disk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention; FIG. 1 shows the disk waiting state; FIG. 2 shows astate on the way of a disk being inserted; and FIG. 3 shows the state inwhich a disk is clamped.

In the disk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1, a replayingmechanism for replaying the loaded disk 1 is provided inside a frame 40composed of a bottom cover 9 and a top cover 13. The top cover 13 isprovided with a clamp cover 14, in the inside of which a clamp section50 is disposed for retaining a disk holder 7 movable up and down. Insidethe frame 40, a turntable 4 driven by a spindle motor 8 is provided inthe position opposed to the disk holder 7. Inside the frame 40, furtherprovided are a pickup 10 for reading the information on the loaded disk1 and a traverse unit 5 for moving the pickup 10 in the diameterdirection of a disk 1. The traverse unit 5 is retained by a traversechassis 6, and is configured so as to rotate by a predetermined anglearound a shaft 6 a. According to the rotational motion of the traverseunit 5, the turntable 4 moves between the disk waiting state and theclamped state of the disk 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the disk loading apparatus according toEmbodiment 1, an opening section 17 is formed in the left side of theframe 40 composed of the bottom cover 9 and the top cover 13, while theopening section 17 is provided with a disk feeder 16. The disk feeder 16comprises a roller 2 capable of rotating and is configured so as to berotatable around a shaft 16 a.

Described below is the operation of the disk loading apparatus havingthe above-mentioned configuration according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1shows the disk waiting state before the disk 1 is drawn into theapparatus, FIG. 2 shows a state on the way of the disk 1 being drawn in,and FIG. 3 shows the state in which the disk 1 is clamped.

Starting from the disk waiting state shown in FIG. 1, the disk 1 isdrawn in; when the tip 1 a thereof reaches a predetermined position (theposition indicated by reference numeral S in FIG. 2), the roller 2begins to rotate, whereby the disk feeder 16 rotates (rotates by apredetermined angle in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1) thereby topush the disk 1. By the rotation of the roller 2, with being pressedagainst a pad 3, the disk 1 is moved toward the turntable 4, whereby thedisk 1 is transferred to the position (replay position) in which thecenter thereof substantially aligns with the center of the turntable 4.

When the disk 1 reaches the predetermined position as described above,an electric signal is input to a driving mechanism, whereby the drivingmechanism causes the traverse unit 5 to rotate around the shaft 6 a ofthe traverse chassis 6. As a result, the turntable 4 moves in thedirection causing the disk 1 to be pressed, and is thereby enforcedtoward the disk holder 7. Here, the start of operation of the drivingmechanism may be carried out by mechanical linkage action of a lever anda cam caused by the insertion of the disk 1, in place of theabove-mentioned electric signal.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the traverse unit 5 is in the bottomposition, that is, in the disk waiting state or in a state on the way ofdisk drawing-in, the spindle motor 8 is positioned so as not to contactwith the bottom cover 9, while the traverse unit 5 is formed in a thinshape so as to be able to move up and down by a predetermined distance.Further, after the replay of the disk 1, even when the traverse unit 5rotates around the shaft 6 a of the traverse chassis 6 and goes downdeparting from the disk 1, the spindle motor 8 is configured so as notto contact with the bottom cover 9.

In Embodiment 1, when the turntable 4 is in the bottom position, thatis, in the disk waiting state or in a state on the way of diskdrawing-in, the pickup 10 is moved in the direction of the outercircumference of the disk 1 and positioned in the vicinity of the shaft6 a so as not to contact with the bottom cover 9. Further, in theejection of the disk 1, before the traverse unit 5 goes down in order torelease the clamping of the disk 1, the pickup 10 is configured so as tobe moved in the direction of the outer circumference of the disk 1 so asnot to contact with the bottom cover 9.

As described above, in Embodiment 1, the clamp section 50 is configuredso as not to rotate, while the traverse unit 5 for retaining theturntable 4 is configured so as to rotate around the shaft 6 a of thetraverse chassis 6 and thereby move up and down. Further, when theturntable 4 is in the bottom position, the pickup 10 is configured so asto be moved in the direction of the outer circumference of the disk.Therefore, in Embodiment 1, even in case that a pickup 10 and a traverseunit 5 having a shape according to the prior art are used, thicknessreduction of the disk loading apparatus can be achieved. In other words,thickness reduction of the disk loading apparatus does not needthickness reduction of the pickup 10 and the traverse unit 5.

Further, in the configuration of Embodiment 1, a disk tray onto whichthe disk 1 is placed when the disk 1 is inserted is not used.Accordingly, the disk retaining mechanism in embodiment 1 can beconfigured to be thin, and this permits further thickness reduction ofthe disk loading apparatus.

Described below is the clamp section of the disk loading apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views of the main part of the clampsection 50 of the disk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG.4 shows a state on the way of the disk 1 being drawn in, while FIG. 5shows the state in which the disk 1 is clamped.

In FIG. 4, the clamp section 50 according to Embodiment 1 comprises adisk holder 7, a magnet 11, and a magnet yoke 12. The magnet 11 and themagnet yoke 12 are formed in an annular shape, while the magnet 11 isdisposed within the magnet yoke 12 concentrically with the disk holder 7and fixed by claw members and the like provided in the disk holder 7.

Here, in Embodiment 1, the description has been made for the case thatthe magnet 11 and the magnet yoke 12 are formed in an annular shape,however, the present invention is not restricted to this configuration;the magnet and the magnet yoke may have another shape, for example, aplurality of magnet pieces may be disposed radially from the center ofthe disk holder 7. Such a configuration permits further weight reductionof the clamp section 50.

The clamp retaining mechanism for retaining the clamp section 50 of thedisk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1 is described below withreference to FIG. 5. The disk holder 7 to which the magnet yoke 12 andthe magnet 11 are attached is retained by the clamp cover 14 serving asa clamp retaining member, so as to have a predetermined clearance in theup, down, right, and left directions and so as to be rotatable as wellas floatable in the up and down directions. The clamp cover 14 is fixedto the top cover 13, and the clamp cover 14 has a guide 14 a forengaging with the center hole 12 a of the magnet yoke 12 when the clampsection 50 is confronted with the disk holder 7 and thereby pushed up inthe time of insertion of the disk 1. The guide 14 a is provided so as toprotrude in the direction opposed to the clamp section 50, and arrangedso that the center position of the guide 14 a substantially aligns withthe center position of the turntable 4.

In the normal state, the clamp section 50 is attracted to the clampcover 14 and lifted up by the magnet 11. Nevertheless, in some cases,for example, in case of a shock during the transfer, the clamp section50 goes down to the turntable 4 side according to the self-weight. Inthis case, when the disk 1 is drawn in, the tip 1 a which is the endsurface of the disk 1 is confronted with the tapered section 7 a of thedisk holder 7, whereby the disk holder 7 is pushed up. The taperedsection 7 a of the disk holder 7 is formed so as to have an angle of 45degrees or less relative to the recording surface of the inserted disk1.

The clamp section 50 pushed up by the confrontation between the disk 1and the tapered section 7 a is attracted to the clamp cover 14 composedof a magnetic material by the attractive force of the magnet 11. At thattime, the ridge of the guide 14 a of the clamp cover 14 protrudes intothe center hole 12 a of the magnet yoke 12, whereby the disk holder 7 iscentered at the turntable 4. As such, when the disk 1 is positioned to apredetermined position on the turntable 4, the clamp section 50 goesdown to the turntable 4 side according to the self-weight and theattractive force of the magnet 11, thereby being attracted to theturntable 4, whereby stable chucking action of the disk 1 is achieved.

As described above, in the disk loading apparatus according toEmbodiment 1, a clamp holder having been provided so as to rotate in theconventional apparatus is not used, and instead, fixed-type clamp meanshaving a clamp section 50 floating up and down is provided. In the diskloading apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the turntable 4 opposed tothe clamp means is configured so as to move up and down according to therotational motion of the traverse unit 5. The traverse unit 5 isconfigured so as to rotate around the shaft in the position opposite tothe position of the turntable 4, that is, in the vicinity of theperiphery of the loaded disk 1. In the disk loading apparatus having theconfiguration according to Embodiment 1, in the drawing-in and theejection of the disk 1, the traverse unit 5 is configured so as torotate and thereby cause the turntable provided with the spindle motor 8to move up and down, whereby the transition between the disk waitingstate and the replaying state is carried out.

In Embodiment 1, the thickness of the spindle motor 8 is formed to bethin so that the traverse unit 5 can move up and down within the frame40, while the pickup serving as the information reading means isconfigured so as to be moved in the direction of the disk outercircumference in the traverse unit 5 in the disk drawing-in and the diskejection.

Further, when the traverse unit 5 rotates and the turntable 4 goes down,the clamp section 50 is normally attracted to the clamp cover 14 andlifted up by the magnet 11 built in the clamp section 50. In some cases,due to a shock during the transfer, the clamp section 50 goes down bythe self-weight of the clamp section 50 or by the situation that themagnet 11 is attracted to the yoke (not shown) imbedded in the turntable4. In this case, the tapered section 7 a formed in the clamp section 50and having an angle of 45 degrees or less is confronted with the disk 1,thereby lifting up the clamp section 50, whereby the magnet 11 isattracted to the clamp cover 14. As a result, the bottom surface of theclamp section 50 is positioned at substantially the same elevation asthe bottom surface of the pad 3 or at a slightly higher elevation,whereby the inserted disk 1 is positioned securely at the replayposition.

In the disk loading apparatus according to Embodiment 1, by virtue ofthe above-mentioned configuration, the transfer region of the disk 1 isefficiently used, whereby thickness reduction of the apparatus isachieved.

Further, in the configuration of Embodiment 1, centering action iscarried out by inserting the protrusion 14 a provided in the clamp cover14 into the center hole 12 a of the clamp section 50, whereby stable andsecure chucking action of the disk 1 is achieved.

Here, the description of Embodiment 1 has been made for the case thatthe hole 12 a formed in the center of the clamp section 50 for engagingwith the guide 14 a of the clamp cover 14 is formed in the magnet yoke12, however, it may be formed in the disk holder 7. Further, the shapeof the guide 14 a of the clamp cover 14 may be any shape as long as theclamp section 50 is guided to the predetermined position; in place of acombination of a simple protrusion and a hole, a combination of aprotrusion and a recess each having an annular shape may be used.

In Embodiment 1, the disk opposing surface (bottom surface in FIG. 4) ofthe disk holder 7 attached to the clamp cover 14 is formed with amaterial such as a plastic material having a low coefficient offriction. Further, when the disk 1 contacts with the disk holder 7, thedisk opposing surface is positioned at substantially the same elevationas that from the placement surface of the turntable 4 to the bottomsurface of the pad 3. Accordingly, in the drawing-in and the ejection ofthe disk 1, the force generated by the roller 2 of the disk feeder 16and enforcing the disk 1 upward causes the disk opposing surface of thedisk holder 7 to contact with the top surface of the disk 1, whereby thedisk 1 is prevented from contacting with the top cover 13.

As described above, in the disk loading apparatus according toEmbodiment 1, the clamp section 50 is floatable and of the fixed type,while the traverse unit 5 is configured so as to move up and down. Thus,according to the disk loading apparatus of Embodiment 1, the clampsection 50 is disposed in the disk transfer path, and the disk transferspace is efficiently used, whereby thickness reduction of the apparatusis achieved. Further, in Embodiment 1, the protrusion 14 a formed in theclamp case 14 permits centering of the clamp section 50, whereby theposition of the clamp section 50 is stabilized, and the chucking actionof the disk 1 is carried out securely.

Embodiment 2

Embodiment 2 of a disk loading apparatus according to the presentinvention is described below with reference to the attached FIG. 6. FIG.6 is a side cross sectional view of an example in which a disk loadingapparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention isinstalled in a notebook type personal computer 216 serving as a diskreplaying apparatus. In FIG. 6, parts having the same function andconfiguration as those of the above-mentioned disk loading apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1 are designated by like numerals, and thedescription is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the disk loading apparatus according toEmbodiment 2, a replaying mechanism for replaying the loaded disk 1 isprovided inside a frame 240 composed of a bottom cover 209 and a topcover 213. The top cover 213 is provided with a clamp cover 214, in theinside of which a clamp section 50 movable up and down is provided.Inside the frame, a turntable 4 driven by a spindle motor 8 is providedin the position opposed to the clamp section 50. Inside the frame 240,further provided are a pickup 10 for reading the information on theloaded disk 1 and a traverse unit 5 for moving the pickup 10 in thedirection of a disk 1 diameter. The traverse unit 5 is configured so asto rotate by a predetermined angle around a shaft 6 a. According to therotational motion of the traverse unit 5, the turntable 4 moves betweenthe disk waiting state and the clamped state of the disk 1.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which the disk loading apparatus having theabove-mentioned configuration is installed in the notebook type personalcomputer 216 serving as a disk replaying apparatus. In the disk loadingapparatus comprising the top cover 213 and the bottom cover 209, a topcover 213A on the disk insertion side is formed at the same elevation asthe top surface of the clamp cover 214. On the other hand, a top cover213B on the traverse unit 5 side is formed at the same elevation as thebottom surface of the clamp cover 214. Therefore, in the disk loadingapparatus according to Embodiment 2, the top cover 213 on the traverseunit 5 side (rear section of the apparatus) is formed to be thinner by adimension C than the top cover 213 on the disk insertion side (frontsection of the apparatus). A keyboard section 218 of the notebook typepersonal computer 216 can be disposed in the internal space generated bythe elevation difference formed as described above. Further, in the diskloading apparatus according to Embodiment 2, since the top cover 213 onthe disk insertion side is formed in a planar shape at the sameelevation as the top surface of the clamp cover 214, a palm rest section217 having a planar shape can be disposed here.

By virtue of the above-mentioned configuration, in the disk loadingapparatus according to Embodiment 2, the space in the notebook typepersonal computer 216 is efficiently used, whereby thickness reductionof the notebook type personal computer 216 is achieved. Further, when acorner surface 209 a is formed in the front end section (bottom leftsurface in FIG. 6) of the bottom cover 209, the degree of freedom indesign of the exterior section 219 of the notebook type personalcomputer 216 is increased.

As seen from the detailed description of the above-mentionedembodiments, the present invention has the following effects.

In the present invention, the clamp section is floatable and of thefixed type, while the turntable opposed to the clamp section isconfigured so as to cause the traverse unit to rotate by a predeterminedangle and thereby move up and down, whereby the clamp section can bedisposed in the disk transfer path. Therefore, the present inventionprovides a disk loading apparatus in which the space inside theapparatus is efficiently used, and in which reduction of the size andthe thickness is achieved.

In the disk loading apparatus according to the present invention, theclamp section is guided so as to be positioned securely in thepredetermined position. Accordingly, in the disk loading apparatusaccording to the present invention, the inserted disk is clamped stablyand securely, whereby damage in the recording surface of the disk isprevented.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of thepresently preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that suchdisclosure is not to be interpreted as limiting. Various alterations andmodifications will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the artto which the present invention pertains, after having read the abovedisclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims beinterpreted as covering all alterations and modifications as fall withinthe true spirit and scope of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention is a disk loading apparatus of high universalityapplicable to an apparatus, such as a personal computer (PC) of desk-toptype and notebook type, for recording on or reproducing from adisk-shaped recording medium such as a CD and a DVD.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disk loading apparatus comprising: disktransferring means for drawing and ejecting an inserted disk to and fromthe inside of the apparatus; clamp means configured so as to befloatable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of diskinsertion and configured so as to keep a distance from a path of diskinsertion when being confronted with the inserted disk; turntable meanson which the inserted disk is placed and which is driven by a spindlemotor; information reading means for reading the information on theinserted disk; and traverse means configured so as to move theinformation reading means in a diameter direction of a disk and so as tomove said turntable means and cause it to press said clamp means,wherein when the disk is inserted and ejected, a pickup serving as saidinformation reading means is moved in a direction of the outercircumference of the loaded disk.
 2. A disk loading apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said traverse means is a traverse unit, which isconfigured so as to rotate around a rotary shaft provided in thevicinity of the outer periphery of the loaded disk and cause saidturntable means to move between a replay waiting position and a replayposition.
 3. A disk loading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saiddisk transferring means comprises a roller which rotates with pushingthe inserted disk and thereby performs the drawing-in action and theejection action of the disk, whereby when the disk is positioned in areplay position, said turntable means is lifted up toward said clampmeans, so as to clamp the disk.
 4. A disk loading apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said clamp means comprises: a clamp section havingattracting means; and a clamp retaining member for retaining the clampsection rotatably and floatably; wherein when the disk is inserted andsaid clamp section is pushed up, said clamp section is attracted to theclamp retaining member, and wherein when the disk is positioned in areplay position, said clamp section is attracted to said turntablemeans, so as to clamp the disk.
 5. A disk loading apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein a frame enclosing said disk loading apparatus is formedsuch that the rear section of the apparatus is thinner when the frontsection of the apparatus on the disk insertion side and the rear sectionof the apparatus are compared with each other.
 6. A disk loadingapparatus according to claim 5, wherein said attracting means comprisesa magnet, when said clamp retaining member is attracted by said magnet,said clamp section is provided with a guide hole having a recess shapefor causing the positioning relative to the center of the rotary shaftof said turntable means, while said clamp retaining member is providedwith a guide having a protrusion shape in accordance with said guidehole of said clamp section.
 7. A disk loading apparatus comprising: disktransferring means for drawing and ejecting an inserted disk to and fromthe inside of the apparatus; clamp means configured so as to befloatable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of diskinsertion and configured so as to keep a distance from a path of diskinsertion when being confronted with the inserted disk; turntable meanson which the inserted disk is placed and which is driven by a spindlemotor; information reading means for reading the information on theinserted disk; and traverse means configured so as to move theinformation reading means in a diameter direction of a disk and so as tomove said turntable means and cause it to press said clamp means,wherein wherein said clamp means comprises a clamp section havingattracting means, and a clamp retaining member for retaining the clampsection rotatably and floatably, wherein when the disk is inserted andsaid clamp section is pushed up, said clamp section is attracted to theclamp retaining member, and wherein when the disk is positioned in areplay position, said clamp section is attracted to said turntablemeans, so as to clamp the disk; when said clamp section is moveddeparting from said turntable means and pushed up in the time of diskinsertion, the position of the bottom surface of said clamp section ispositioned at substantially the same elevation as that of a pad withwhich the inserted disk is confronted and which guides the disk, oralternatively at an elevation having a predetermined distance from theposition of said pad in the direction departing from said turntablemeans.
 8. A disk loading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein saidtraverse means is a traverse unit, which is configured so as to rotatearound a rotary shaft provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery ofthe loaded disk and cause said turntable means to move between a replaywaiting position and a replay position.
 9. A disk loading apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein said disk transferring means comprises aroller which rotates with pushing the inserted disk and thereby performsthe drawing-in action and the ejection action of the disk, whereby whenthe disk is positioned in a replay position, said turntable means islifted up toward said clamp means, so as to clamp the disk.
 10. A diskloading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the disk isinserted and ejected, a pickup serving as said information reading meansis moved in a direction of the outer circumference of the loaded disk.11. A disk loading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said clampsection has a slope confronted with the inserted disk, and wherein whenthe disk is inserted, said clamp section is moved departing from saidturntable means and attracted to said clamp retaining member composed ofa magnetic material by a magnet serving as said attracting means.
 12. Adisk loading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a frame enclosingsaid disk loading apparatus is formed such that the rear section of theapparatus is thinner when the front section of the apparatus on the diskinsertion side and the rear section of the apparatus are compared witheach other.
 13. A disk loading apparatus according to claim 12, whereinwhen said clamp retaining member is attracted by said magnet, said clampsection is provided with a guide hole having a recess shape for causingthe positioning relative to the center of the rotary shaft of saidturntable means, while said clamp retaining member is provided with aguide having a protrusion shape in accordance with said guide hole ofsaid clamp section.
 14. A disk loading apparatus comprising: disktransferring means for drawing and ejecting an inserted disk to and fromthe inside of the apparatus; clamp means configured so as to befloatable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of diskinsertion and configured so as to keep a distance from a path of diskinsertion when being confronted with the inserted disk; turntable meanson which the inserted disk is placed and which is driven by a spindlemotor; information reading means for reading the information on theinserted disk; and traverse means configured so as to move theinformation reading means in a diameter direction of a disk and so as tomove said turntable means and cause it to press said clamp means,wherein said clamp means comprises a clamp section having attractingmeans, and a clamp retaining member for retaining the clamp sectionrotatably and floatably, wherein when the disk is inserted and saidclamp section is pushed up, said clamp section is attracted to the clampretaining member, and wherein when the disk is positioned in a replayposition, said clamp section is attracted to said turntable means, so asto clamp the disk, said clamp section has a slope confronted with theinserted disk, and wherein when the disk is inserted, said clamp sectionis moved departing from said turntable means and attracted to said clampretaining member composed of a magnetic material by a magnet serving assaid attracting means.
 15. A disk loading apparatus according to claim14, wherein said traverse means is a traverse unit, which is configuredso as to rotate around a rotary shaft provided in the vicinity of theouter periphery of the loaded disk and cause said turntable means tomove between a replay waiting position and a replay position.
 16. A diskloading apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said disk transferringmeans comprises a roller which rotates with pushing the inserted diskand thereby performs the drawing-in action and the ejection action ofthe disk, whereby when the disk is positioned in a replay position, saidturntable means is lifted up toward said clamp means, so as to clamp thedisk.
 17. A disk loading apparatus according to claim 14, wherein saiddisk transferring means comprises a roller which rotates with pushingthe inserted disk and thereby performs the drawing-in action and theejection action of the disk, whereby when the disk is positioned in areplay position, said turntable means is lifted up toward said clampmeans, so as to clamp the disk.
 18. A disk loading apparatus accordingto claim 14, wherein when the disk is inserted and ejected, a pickupserving as said information reading means is moved in a direction of theouter circumference of the loaded disk.
 19. A disk loading apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein a frame enclosing said disk loadingapparatus is formed such that the rear section of the apparatus isthinner when the front section of the apparatus on the disk insertionside and the rear section of the apparatus are compared with each other.20. A disk loading apparatus according to claim 19, wherein saidattracting means comprises a magnet, when said clamp retaining member isattracted by said magnet, said clamp section is provided with a guidehole having a recess shape for causing the positioning relative to thecenter of the rotary shaft of said turntable means, while said clampretaining member is provided with a guide having a protrusion shape inaccordance with said guide hole of said clamp section.
 21. A diskloading apparatus comprising: disk transferring means for drawing andejecting an inserted disk to and from the inside of the apparatus; clampmeans configured so as to be floatable in a direction perpendicular tothe direction of disk insertion and configured so as to keep a distancefrom a path of disk insertion when being confronted with the inserteddisk; turntable means on which the inserted disk is placed and which isdriven by a spindle motor; information reading means for reading theinformation on the inserted disk; and traverse means configured so as tomove the information reading means in a diameter direction of a disk andso as to move said turntable means and cause it to press said clampmeans, wherein said disk transferring means comprises a roller whichrotates with pushing the inserted disk and thereby performs thedrawing-in action and the ejection action of the disk, whereby when thedisk is positioned in a replay position, said turntable means is liftedup toward said clamp means, so as to clamp the disk.